News

Trousdale Officer Shot in Gunfight

A Trousdale County officer remains in critical, but stable condition at Vanderbilt Medical Center after responding to a domestic situation at 100 Coker Lane around 12:45 a.m. Monday, December 5th.

According to Trousdale County Sheriff Ray Russell, Sgt. Harold Cooley and Deputy Dusty Cato were dispatched to the residence of David Graves off Harris Branch, on a domestic call from the suspect’s girlfriend. Upon their arrival, they realized he was armed and after the subject refused to drop his weapon, they exchanged gunfire.

“Sgt. Cooley, who has served about ten years in my department, was shot in the face and neck area,” stated Sheriff Russell, “and Graves was hit in the shoulder. Both men were transported to Vanderbilt Hospital with critical injuries. The father of two children, Cooley is expected to recover, although he will have a long road ahead of him.”

“Graves has a criminal history in Trousdale County,” Sheriff Russell said, “and my deputies had been called out to his residence a month prior to this gunfight. We have turned the investigation over to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and they will determine what charges he will face.”

“I would like to thank LPD Chief Ray Amalfitano and Macon County Sheriff Mark Gammons for their assistance at the crime scene, along with Sheriff Hooper from Smith County. Sgt. Cooley will probably need more surgery and I would like to ask everyone to please remember him in their prayers.”

“I was advised about 1:30 a.m. Monday morning, of the situation that had taken place in Hartsville by Chief Deputy Wayland Cothron,” said Chief Amalfitano, “and he requested our help at the scene of the shooting. I immediately contacted Lt. Kevin Woodard and Detective Jason Roberts and we headed to Trousdale County to render aid. I know Sgt. Cooley and it is heart wrenching for him to have to go through something like this. He is an excellent law enforcement officer and the people of Trousdale County are blessed to have him there to protect them. I am deeply saddened and my prayers go out to Sgt. Cooley and his family.”

“On a note to Sheriff Russell, we are always ready and willing to help your department at any time. We are just a phone call away.”

Added Sheriff Gammons, “You never know when something like this might happen and we quickly responded to Sheriff Russell’s call for aid. A law officer never knows when a night on patrol might be his last and we ask everyone to pray for this young deputy. We are always available to help out any agency that needs assistance and like Chief Amalfitano said, we are just a phone call away.”